Chronic infusions of GABA into the medial frontal cortex of the rat induce a reversible delayed spatial alternation deficit.
The effects of bilateral infusions of GABA into the medial frontal cortex of the rat were studied in a delayed spatial alternation task. It was found that GABA (500 mM, 1 microliter/h during 7 days) impaired the performance of the rats in the previously learned task. Upon interruption of the treatment, the animals rapidly recovered normal performance scores. The results show that GABA infusions produce functional deficits similar to those produced by lesions of the frontal cortex. Moreover, the deficits are reversible upon interruption of the treatment. This technique may therefore be a useful tool for studying frontal lobe functions and the involvement of GABAergic mechanisms in cognitive processes.
Di Scala
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Instituto de Fisiologia Celular, U.N.A.M., Mexico.
Meneses
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Brailowsky
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D000818:Animals; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid